Watford have completed the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel on a dual-registration deal which will run for the remainder of the season.
The Golden Girls announced the news via a post on their official club website this evening.
Middleton-Patel has come through the Manchester United youth system after joining the club from Liverpool in summer 2020. The teenager is rated very highly by The Red Devils’ head coach Marc Skinner, however, she is yet to really make her stamp on the senior squad.
As part of her development, Middleton-Patel has been sent out on a number of loan moves. In the 2021/2022 season, the keeper spent time with Blackburn Rovers before briefly providing cover for injuries at Leicester City. Last season saw the youngster play three games for Coventry United before again returning to Blackburn Rovers for a short period. The keeper arguably needs regular first team involvement over a sizeable period of time and she will now get that during her time at Watford.
Watford head coach Damon Lathrope has brought Middleton-Patel in to provide some stern competition for first-choice goalkeeper Jacqui Goldsmid.
Middleton-Patel could go straight into the Watford squad for this weekend’s Barclays Women’s Championship fixture at Southampton.